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Tuesday, 23 November 2010

I've been wanting and wanting and wanting to share this with you and now I feel it's respectfully close enough to Christmas that I can!! This is one of my favourite ever Christmas crafts:

Cinnamon and Heart Garland.

I've prepared a step-by-step tutorial so you can have a go too.

So...apart from a sewing kit. this is what you need:

jute twine, cinnamon sticks, fabric, ribbon, wooden spools, stuffing.

The fabric I chose was a fat quarter of tea-dyed red checks and ticking, and I had some Jane Means ribbon that matched rather nicely, don't you think?

Step 1: Draw and cut out a heart template on a piece of card. Take the material for your first heart and fold it in half, right sides facing. Pin it to your material and cut out, leaving a 1cm seam allowance all around.

Step 2: Sew around the heart apart from an inch or so to leave a space for stuffing.

{Shown as the beautifully and artistically drawn purple bits in the picture.}

Step 3: Turn the heart the right way around and stuff. Hand sew the rest of the opening closed.

{Yes, this is open heart surgery....boom boom}

Step 4: Repeat this six more times (leaving you with seven hearts).

{I'm not ashamed to admit that I roped in some of my children to help with the production line at this point....}

Step 5: Take a wooden spool and glue one end of the ribbon onto it. Cut the ribbon to the right length, leaving room for a slight overlap. Fold over the other end of the ribbon for a neat finish and glue in place. Repeat eleven times to leave you with twelve reels.

It doesn't take long, honest!

{The first time I did this, I foolishly left them where my twins could get them....yup, every last one had the ribbon removed....}

Step 6: Cut the cinnamon sticks into six 3-inch pieces.

Step 7: Using a sharp point, make a hole in the middle of each piece of cinnamon.

{Um, yes, that is a knitting needle...if you have something sharper, please may I have it to save me gouging my hands next time?}

Step 8: Using a needle with a BIG eye, thread the jute twine and start the assembly.

Heart, reel, stick, reel, heart, reel, stick, reel, heart....

Just to warn you, you have to pull harder than you think to get the twine through the heart....

I can't wait to share where I've put them....my first Christmas decoration!! Here's a sneak peek, just for you....

I'm linking up to my favourite parties in the sidebar. Come and join me!

Sarah... Sarah... so nice you have to say it twice :) Don't you just love red gingham and plaid at Christmas?! One of my favorites! I like that you recruited the kids to help. I love to include mine, as well. There may be some child labor laws against it here in the states...lol! Good memories for them though! Just love this project. I want to make a Country Christmas tree this year, so this is such an inspiration. Love it... sew cute! We will be home this Sat. eve. Having a great time with family...

Dear Sarah, What a most attractive garland and how imaginative [ and of course beautifully fragranced] to add the Cinnamon sticks. I was left behind at the first line......mention of the sewing kit!! But, I do admire your craftsmanship and am certain that you will have many clever readers who can follow your most informative instructions.

Hi Sarah,thanks for asking about my gekko. He is painted with acrylics and I also use a fine black pitt artist pen for outlining. I think it was a 0.5 pen. The school in Belize- I imagine is way different froma private school in this country. Small class sizes - about 10 to a class in little wooden huts with wooden louvres to catch the breeze, and a ceiling fan overhead. Limited resources, but very happy pupils, all eager to learn. A very special place. Not sure I would go back now, but maybe when my little one is older. Who knows. Life is an adventure isn't it?

Hey Sarah! Im taking a break from Christmas tree NIGHTMARE to breathe! That is the cutest thing EVA! See...you make it look so easy...Im not sure i could accomplish that (So...you can just ship that one right on over to me :) ) However, stick me in a room with a bunch of flowers and a glue gun and im GOLDEN! Have a BLESSED thanksgiving!!!!

Oh this is just so charming Sarah!! Love the fabric you chose for those darling hearts and the spools and cinnamon are perfect!! Thanks for the tutorial and for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! Can't wait to see more of your decorating!! :)

Just dropping by to let you know that I linked to this post in a round up today from the Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip. :) This will appear in the main Craft Gossip RSS feed, on the main home page and can be found directly here http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/9-advent-calendar-ideas/

If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here!http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/

Sarah your garland is adorable! Thanks so much for linking to the party - I greatly appreciate it! I featured these today - stop by and grab a featured button if you like. Hope you have a lovely week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

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